Improvement in inking-roller compositions for printers



UNITED STATES ANDREW VAN BIBBER,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN INKING-ROLLER COMPOSITIONS FOR PRINTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,897, dated April 23, 1878; application filed May 17, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW VAN BIBBER, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented an Improvement in Inking- Roller Compositions for Printers, of which the following is a specification:

My invention is designed to remove the obstacles now existing in the way of the printer making his composition inking-rollers at short notice, and at any season of the year.

My invention consists of a new article of manufacture, which I call compounded glue, embracing in its composition all the elements or ingredients necessary to make an inkingroller composition except the saccharine matter; and this new article of manufacture is ready for use at any season of the year, and at a moments notice, to make a complete composition for inking-rollers, by the simple addition thereto, by the user, of the said saccharine matter.

The advantages of this article of manufacture to the user, as compared with his use of any of the complete roller-compositions, and as compared with his manufacture of his own composition from the separate ingredients, I will describe hereinafter.

All complete rollercompositions in actual practical use employ as one of the ingredients molasses, sirup, or other equivalent saccharine material, and this is the ingredient which gives rise to all the difficulties in transportation and storage in different climates and seasons of the year, to which I will hereinafter allude.

In the use of my invention I can take any of the well-known inking-roller compositions, my own (patented March 28, 1871) included, and, by simplyomittin g the saccharine matter, make the herein-described new article of manufacture, compounded glue.

In the composition of my new article of manufacture I have used, with success, the following ingredients, in the following proportions: Four ounces of white glue, four ounces of glycerine, and one-half ounce of non-drying varnish, to give the roller proper aflinity for ink. I may also use a composition of glue, glycerine, and Canada balsam, or, in accordance with my patent of March 28, 1871, a composition such as therein described, with the sirup omitted.

It will therefore be seen that the particular ingredients and proportions can be varied, the essential feature only being the omission of the molasses, sirup, or other saccharine matter, the composition, with this omission, being a new article of manufacture, which, although incomplete as a printers inking-roller composition, has very important features of value in printers supplies.

My compounded glue is of such a nature that no soaking or preparation is required, but it may be kept in stock by printers or dealers any length of time; but when rollers are needed, it may be cut up, thrown in the kettle, and melted in the usual way, the saccharine matter (molasses, honey, or what ever is preferred) being then added, and a complete printers inking-roller composition is the result.

The advantage to a printer in the use of my new article of manufacture, as compared with making his own complete composition from the original separate ingredients, is its readiness for use. When a pressman wishes to make his own composition from separate ingredients, he soaks his glue for a few minutes, and then takes it out of the water and covers with a damp cloth. The glue must be left thus till the next day, by which time it is soaked equally through. This takes twentyfour hours, whereas my compounded glue may be melted at a moments notice. Should the pressman by forgetfulness or occupation, oversoak his glue of the ordinary kind, it cannot be used for several days. If he undersoak it, (for one barrel of glue may vary from another,) he must resoak it; and the soaking of the same kind of glue varies with the temperature of the water. For instance, glue that is sufficiently soaked in one minute in summer, will need about nine or ten minutes in winter. It is impossible for a pressman who makes his rollers but seldom to always soak his glue just right in consequence of this. I avoid these accidents. Very many printers now use ready-made complete roller-composition. All

of these ready-made roller compositions vary with the season, and are made difl'erently in the spring and fall, summer and winter.

The advantages to a printer in the use of my new article of manufacture, as compared with his use of ready-made compositions, are as follows:

First, it is invariable, winter or summer. The only difl'erencc in its use is, that more saccharine matter is added for cold than for warm weather. The compounded glue itself is invariable, and the same thing may be used at any season of the year. All ready-made complete compositions, on the other hand, must vary with the season, and not only with the season, but with the latitude. For instance, I send as a winter complete composition to New Orleans that which would be a fall or spring composition for Chicago. My compounded glue may be sold and used indifi'erently, north or south, winter or summer. N o ready-made composition made will do this.

Second, it does not become valueless by age, as nearly all roller-compositions do, but will melt as well after months or years elapse as when first made. All,or nearlyall,roller-compositions season, as it is called-that is, become unmeltable, no matter whether they have been made into rollers or are in the cake form and yet unused. In rollers this is not a fault, but a merit, as by thoroughly seasoning they become very tough and durable, at the same time not necessarily increasing in hardness; but this process goes on in the cake form just the same, and unused composition, as I know to my cost, becomes completely valueless. This is due entirely to the presence in it of the saccharine matter necessary to its completion as a roller-composition. By omitting the saccharine matter until required for immediate use, I avoid this loss and trouble. My compounded glue may be kept for years unimpaired for use. I have had it on hand for overa year, and upon its being needed for use it melted perfectly.

Third, it is a saving, in avoiding loss by age, and consequent deterioration. When achange of season occurs, as from summer to winter, or vice versa, I have to order back from all my agents all they have on hand and replace with seasonable composition. As I have about twenty agents in the larger cities, from New Orleans to Boston, this is quite an expense, and throws on my hands a large supply of old unseasonable composition, which I must work over, if I can.

Fourth, it is adapted for different machines. Some printing-presses need a soft roller, others a much harder one. All ready-made rollercompositions, however, are of a uniform degree of hardness, and are expected to be used just as they are sent. They may be softened with molasses, but cannot be hardened with glue without much trouble and uncertainty. Hand-presses require a very soft roller. The Campbell and some other cylinder presses need a harder one, while distributing-rollers and rollers for fast job-presses using stifl' inks must be still harder. Now, with my compounded glue, hard and soft rollers may all be made at one casting. Either the harder ones may be cast first, and then more molasses added to the remainder to cast the softer ones, or the composition may have enough molasses added for the softer ones, and then, when they are cast, more of my compounded glue may be stirred in and the harder rollers cast. In short, I sell the same article at all seasons, to all printers. They, by merely varying the amount of saccharine matter added, adapt it instantly, at will, to the peculiarities of the season or climate, or to their presses or inks. They run no risk of being unsuited in buying it. It will be a standard and staple article of manufacture in printers supplies, and the adapting of it to use is entirely under their own will and whim. They can order it when they please, without fear of its spoiling or becoming unseasonable, and can use it for any work, on any press.

I am aware that it has been attempted to make a complete roller-composition of glue, glycerine, and castor-oil. This diifers essentially from the article which I produce, by reason of the fact that the ingredients stated are compounded in such proportions that the product as sold already possesses the full degree of softness, so that the subsequent admixture of saccharine matter would render it entirely too soft and utterly useless. In other words, that is intended as a complete rollercomposition, while the article I claim requires the admixture of saccharine matter by the user before it is fit for use.

I claim A compounded glue, substantially such as described, as a merchantable commodity convertible into printers inking-roller composition by the admixture of saccharine matter.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

ANDREW VAN BIBBER.

Witnesses:

J OHN E. JONES, J. L. WARTMANN. 

